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jaycen
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Joined: 07 Mar 2011
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Posted: 13 Nov 2011 at 16:50 \| IP Logged

So I have recieved offers for both Deloitte and KPMG tax in NYC. I'm trying to choose between the two, do you guys have any suggestions? and here are a few things I've been considering to help me make my decision, please comment on any of them if you can....

1.) Salary: I have recieved offer letters from both companies already, and deloitte pays pretty high but the salary for KPMG is pretty ridiculous (as in ridiculously high), which is not a bad thing but I have heard that KPMG inflates the intern salary and lowers it once you start full time. Does anyone know what the starting salary is for DT and KPMG entry level tax?

2.) Fit vs. Prestige: Everyone I've talked to has told me to go with Deloitte just because they are bigger and more prestigious. And you can just tell, the Deloitte office is just...so much bigger and nicer than KPMG. However the people were really uptight and I don't think I connected that well with them. But I really enjoyed the KPMG Culture during inside look, and I really feel that I fit better with them. Soo not quite sure which to choose..

3.) KPMG litigation issues: Ok, this is a big one that kind of bugs me...i heard that KPMG went through some legal issues for illegal tax shelters around 2005, and it almost destroyed the company. Does this undermine KPMG's tax practice in any way? Does this mean their tax practice is not as good as the other big 4? Is this bad enough to constitute a going concern for kpmg?

4.) career Progression: I want to at least make senior manager at both firms, and I would just like to know how hard it is to get promoted at DT and KPMG...is it easier an either company?

5.) Specialized areas: I've heard that each firm specializes in different industries in tax...like KPMG specializes in financial services, and Deloitte in Manufacturing...which has a better international tax program though?

any comments would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

db729
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Joined: 22 Apr 2010
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Posts: 256

Posted: 13 Nov 2011 at 20:10 \| IP Logged

1. From what I know, all Big 4 pay within a couple thousand of each other at the entry level. And quite honestly, compensation should be one of the last things you consider in your decision. A couple thousand after taxes is marginally going to affect your daily life, not to mention immaterial in the long term.

2. In public accounting industry, Deloitte > KPMG. In private industry, Deloitte = KPMG. In every other industry, Deloitte = KPMG. Of the Big 4, Deloitte is more prestigious than KPMG, but it doesn't really matter outside of public accounting. All Big 4 are pretty much the same with marginal differences if at all.

If you really think you fit in well with KPMG, I'd take serious emphasis on that because when you're working all those hours, the last thing you care about is prestige or compensation. That being said, culture and "fit" changes all the time. Big 4 has really high turnover rates, you can have a great team one year and a completely different team the next. Not to mention, you might not even be working with the people you interviewed with. Also, during recruiting, everyone is "supposed" to be extra nice to candidates. Just some things to think about.

3. I may be oblivious since I'm from audit, but I'm inclined to think that KPMG's reputation is just fine.

4. You'll never be able to guess which company will help your career progression faster. There are SOO many factors that go into your promotion that you can't predict it. It depends on the coaches you have, the "competition" of your start class, the market needs, did you rub someone the wrong way, etc. You might as well throw this out of your comparison. Btw I know you say you want to make senior manager now, but honestly that could very well change.

5. I have no idea of specialization of tax, I'm in audit. But everyone else above remains true.

jiejenn
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Joined: 18 Dec 2009
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Posted: 13 Nov 2011 at 23:20 \| IP Logged

Everything being equal, Deloitte provides better career forecast and foundations. The hours will be long, and there are might be times you'll question yourself how in the world you got into the mess, but at the end the experience and hard work will pay off. I helped too many of my friends who work at Big4... and sometimes I envy their long hours, but most of the time I am not.

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